A bar on rue Masséna, in Lille.

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M.Libert / 20 Minutes

When the misfortune of some ... Faced with the rebound of the coronavirus epidemic, the Lille metropolis was classified, Wednesday, in areas on heightened alert.

A new status which generates the implementation of drastic measures to try to stop the spread of the virus.

Among these measures, there is one imposing the closure of restaurants and drinking establishments at 10 p.m. maximum and which will come into force on Monday.

In the festive district of Masséna, in Lille, the bars are organized to keep the party going while residents are already enjoying the calm to come.

The European Metropolis of Lille (MEL) has been considered an active circulation area of ​​the virus for two weeks.

This classification in the red zone had allowed the prefect to impose a curfew at 12:30 a.m. on night establishments.

A lesser evil for places of nightlife, the latter losing "only" 2 hours and 30 minutes of daily turnover, at least for those having obtained an exemption until 3 am.

The establishments under the status of nightclub have in any case not reopened to deconfinement.

But closing at 10 p.m. is the hammer blow: "The bulk of our activity, we usually do it from 9 p.m., because that's when the students start to go out," says Sofiane. , the manager of the 22 Club.

Early opening and extended happy hours

Rather than bitching in the void or giving up, the bar bosses racked their brains to find solutions.

“Normally, we open at 1 pm.

There, we decided to start earlier, at 11 am, to try to gain in the morning and afternoon what we lose in the evening, ”explains Sofiane.

And he's not the only one to have thought about it.

As soon as Lille crossed into the red zone, the Razorback, rue Masséna, had decided to open at 2 p.m. instead of 5 p.m.

"There we will have to scratch a little more, we think of opening at noon", announces Inès, barmaid.

Except that the day birds are not those of the night: "It takes slowly but it is not easy to change habits", recognizes the manager of the 22 Club.

"During the day, it's a slightly older clientele who drink more coffee," adds Inès.

In addition to the early opening, the stockings have also broadened the amplitude of their happy hours.

From 1 p.m. for the 22 Club, to 3 p.m. for the Razorback.

"It's true that people start drinking earlier so we pay attention," says the barmaid.

In his establishment, the boss is also considering making snacks to attract students for lunch.

On the other hand, for residents of rue Masséna, the coronavirus has "brought a breath of fresh air" in terms of calm.

“It's much better since closing at 12:30 am and especially because the boxes are still closed,” insists Adrien, member of the Masséna-Solférino collective.

“But with the closing at 10 pm, we are entering extremes that do not please us.

The idea is to find a balance and not for the neighborhood to be dead, ”he adds.

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  • Student

  • Party

  • Covid 19

  • Bar

  • Coronavirus

  • Lille